BuyMeToys.com moving to new location

November 15, 2010|By HEIDI PRESCOTT Tribune columnist

Joey Alexander, 5, reaches for an action figure while shopping with his mom, Wendy, and father, Joe, at Buymetoys.com at University Commons shopping center in Mishawaka. Joey, who recently turned 5, says he was celebrating at his favorite store.

Under normal circumstances, relocating a retail store should take a couple of months. But the owners of BuyMeToys.com in Mishawaka will complete their move from one shopping center to another in only three weeks.

"I'm not sure how it's all happening yet," Kelly Heying says as she contemplates moving tens of thousands of pounds of comic books, lots of action figures and many collectible toys.

Not to mention, she and husband, Casey, are removing shelving and slat walls a few at a time from their storefront at University Commons shopping center, hauling them to their new Grape Road location and resetting them.

BuyMeToys.com will close its current location Nov. 21 and reopen the next morning at 4609 Grape Road, at JMS Plaza, near Outback Steakhouse and across from Lowe's Home Improvement store.

The decision to move proved clear, Heying says, when the new owners of University Commons last month announced plans to turn the center into a medical complex. Contractors already are working at the former Kroger anchor store beside BuyMeToys.com, large trucks are on premises and sections of parking have been removed. Ryan Rans, project developer for the new owners, Allied Physicians of Michiana, says BuyMeToys.com is the first retail tenant to leave the complex, located west of University Park Mall.

In time, University Commons will completely convert to medical offices.

"We've tried to work with each of the tenants through this process. Each has different needs," said Rans. "With their move, BuyMeToys can get in place for the holiday season and avoid disruption from the development."

BuyMeToys.com will be located in a new freestanding multi-tenant building that contains a Sprint store and the locally owned Michiana Used Music and Media.

Nick Artusi, store manager and a co-owner of the used music and media store, believes BuyMeToys.com will provide an instant boost in traffic for the complex. "The same people that buy and collect comics and action figures are generally big video game players and movie watchers," he says.

The 5-year-old Michiana Used Music and Media offers an inventory of about 11,000 items, including movies, music (even vinyl), new and classic video games, systems, accessories, and collectibles.

"We think that the stores will generate business for each other," Artusi says. "Neither of us have had a business right next door where customer likes will coincide so perfectly." Loyal customers who have followed BuyMeToys.com from its two locations in the 100 Center in Mishawaka, to Scottsdale Mall in South Bend, to University Commons, undoubtedly will follow the store to Grape Road. At least that's what the Heyings are hoping.

"It won't be the cleanest move, the smoothest transition we've ever made," says Kelly Heying, "But there was no question in our minds we needed to move and open by Thanksgiving.

"We're changing a few things around the new store, which has been fun. We wish we had more time," she says. "but we're trying to make it into a nice store as quickly as we can."

Have you heard? Complete Nutrition is a 2,287-square-foot store coming to University Park Mall, Mishawaka, according to a state construction report. ... Lula's Cafe is planning to close on Nov. 24 at 1631 Edison Road, South Bend. We hope to receive news soon on its planned future location. ... Imagine That, a locally owned toy store near downtown Mishawaka, is planning to open a temporary second location during the month of December in downtown South Bend. Check back for more details on the downtown holiday tenants. ... Our next live chat discussion is planned for noon Tuesday.